A would-be robber who subjected his victims to a 'frightening ordeal' as he confronted them at night in Weymouth has been jailed.

Daniel Ashley Westwood told two people he was going to rob he had a knife and would stab them.

It was only when a passer-by was alerted that Westwood ran off.

Westwood, 22, of no fixed abode, has now been jailed for two years after admitting two charges of attempted robbery.

Dorset Police said the incident happened in the Park District at 10.40pm on September 12 last year (how the Echo reported the initial story, below) 

Dorset Echo:

A spokesman said: "The victims, two Weymouth men aged 19 and 20, were walking along Derby Street near to the junction with Crescent Street when the defendant walked past them.

"He then turned round and stood in front of them. Westwood repeatedly demanded £20 and threatened to stab them.

"Shortly afterwards two people walked past with a dog and one of the victims shouted to them to call the police. Westwood ran off down a nearby alleyway."

No knife was ever seen and the victims did not sustain any injuries.

Two days later Westwood was arrested for an unrelated matter and had on him a hooded top matching the description given by the victims of what the offender was wearing.

He was subsequently identified by one of the victims.

Detective Constable Sarah Desmond, of Weymouth CID, said: “Westwood subjected his victims to a frightening ordeal as they walked through the town at night.

“Our investigations ensured that Westwood was swiftly identified as the offender and we were able to put him before the court.”